Controlling device for automatic musical instruments.



J. W. SGH AROLD'. 1 CONTROLLING DEVIGE FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG.30,1910.

Patented J an. 12, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. W. SGHAROLD.

CONTROLLING DEVICE PORAUTOMATIO MUSICAL INS APPLICATION FILED AUG.30,1E)10 TRUMENTS.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

rfig of '2 sheets:

thefollowmg is a specification.

.bles orstations deposit coins at about the UNITED STA s PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH w. SCHAROLD, or CINCINNATI, OHIO, AssIG oR Tb THE RUDOLPH WURLITZER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or onrn TONAWANDA, NEW YORK, A conroaa TION or NEW YORK. v

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

1 #2 1,814. Specification ofi'Letters Patent. Patented J an. 12, 1915.

Application filed August 3O, 1910. Serial No. 579,693.

playing. musical instrument or other machine or apparatus to be controlled. The motor circuit is controlled b To all whomit 722 my concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH W. SCH XROLD, a citizen of'the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and any suitable construction, that shown in the State of Ohio, have invented new and useful rawings comprising a pair of bolts 6 Z) Improvements in Controlling Devices for forming t e terminals of the motor circuit I Automatic Musical Instruments, of which andpassing respectively through stationai Y 1 This invention relates to a controlling deride for automatic musical instruments and vertically-movable crosshead D. carrying a otherdevices or machines which are opermetallic staple d the legs of which when ated by a coin-controlled electric motor. 0 e1 ed into the two mercury cups close the When such instruments are installed in motor-circuit, as shown in F 1 s. 3, 4: and o halls or other public places, it is customary while when raised out of contact with the to place coin-receptacles or so-cal'led slotmercury, break said circuit, as shown in Fig boxes at tables or other convenient sta- 1. The mercury cups are covered by a plate ti0ns,-so that the instrument can be played from diflerent parts of the hall. Such receptacles include a chute containing switch terminals of the motor-circuit which are bridged upon the deposit of a nickel or other proper coin, closin the circuit and causing the instrument to p ay a selection. It sometimes happens that persons at different tac having openings for the passage of the staple legs. The cups are formed in a nonconductive strip or block C singleselection, instead of two or more acbars 7 and upper and lower cording to the niimber of coins deposited.

The objectlof my invention is the provision of a simple and reliable practically insure the playing of'a selection for every coin deposited in any of .the several boxes, giving all patrons full value for their deposits. In the accompanying drawings consisting Figure l'is a front elevation of the improved controlling device associated cross bars 7 slide. Projecting into the slot of the slide is a lip (Z formed at the upper endof a vertical bar (Z which carries the cross head D. The relation of the lip d to the lower cross bah f is such that when the slide is raised to its highest position, as shown in Fig. 1, said cross bar engages the lip lifting the switch cross head D and-breaking the motor circuit, while when the slide occupies any. other position its lower cross bar is moreor less removed from the lip, allowing Fig. 2 is a fragmentary face the cross head to remain in its lowermost view of the perforated music sheet, showing the controlling perforations. Figs. 3 and t are-sectional front elevations of the device, showing different positions of the switch- As shown, the sidebars of the slide are provided at their inneredges with ratchet teeth f 7 respectively, the teeth of the operating slide. Fig. 5 is-a rear view of the two -bars facing in opposite directions. device. Fig. 6 is alongitudinal section on ese opposing rows of teeth are enline6.6, Fig. 3. Figs. 7 and 8 are cross gaged alternately by a double-ended desections on the correspondingly-numbered lines in Fig. 3. I

Similar letters of reference responding parts views.

A indicates the electric motor of the selfteiit-pawl:g'carriedby the shank 9 indicate corthroughout the several constituting an escapement.

practically a longitudinally-slotted position in which the motor circuit is closed,

bars andthe detent pawl i the coins droppingbetween rier K guided in a scent .of the-slide when the armaturej normal depressed position of a motor pneumatic slides transversely of the slide and is guided in a horizontal groove g formed in the front side of the upright frame E, as best shown in Fig.

H indicates the electromagnet cooperating with the armature G, and 7', a spring for withdrawing the latter when denergized. This magnet is includedin a coin-controlled circuit containing a plurality of coin-boxes the switch-contacts .of which are shown diagrammatically at j,j inFig. 1. These coin-boxes, which are not shown inthe drawir'igs, are-placed at different tables or stations, as beforestated, and the coin-contacts of the several boxes are con nected in parallel, as shown, so

proper coin in any one of the coin-boxes, the contacts and connecting them momentarily, so as to quickly make and break the circuit and attract and release the armature once for every coin deposited in any one of the boxes. r The slide F is raised intermittently by a spring-pressed feed-pawl Z0 engaging its downwardly-facing ratchet teeth and mountedon a vertically-reciprocating bar or cargroove in the front side of the frame E. I The downward stroke of the bar K is limited by a pin or stop Z projecting from the bottom of the groove is, toward which pin it is constantly urge spring Z connecting the barwith frame E.

The feed the bar K and constantly swung toward (the teeth bf the slide F by a spring 10 In the b said bar, the pawl is held clear of said teeth by a stop or pin mprojecting from the frame E into the slot of the slide, as shown by full lines in the drawings; This construction prevents the feed pawl from checking the dedetent g is actuated. A stop or shoulder if on the p is arranged'to strike a cross bar a of the frame E, so as to limit each u'ptvard stroke of the slide to the distance of one of its teeth. In the construction shown in the dra the ings, the bar or carrier K is reciprocated by N controlled by the p pneumatic action of the musical instrument depressed switch -to' which the improved controlling device is applied. This pneumatic .actio'n may be of any suitable type, that shown in the drawings by way of example'bein'g constructed as follows: 0 indicates the usual perforated music sheet, 0 the tracker board and P the wind chest having the usual exhaust'chamber p.

R indicates a valve chamber communicat ing with said exhaust chamber by aport r and withthe outer atmosphere by a port 0*. These ports are. controlled by valves 1,

the magnet is t at the magnet circuit will be closed by the deposit of a pawl is preferably pivoted to W The instrument new.

carried by'a stem w ich is lnoved'in one direction by a spring direction by. the customary pouch or pneumatic 9 the pouch chamber being connected with the corresponding tracker duct by a channel 8 and tube ,s A port t connects the motor pneumatic with the valve chamber.

tion. is well understood; the motor pneuf matic N being collapsed and caused to elevate the slide F when one of a series of controlling perforations 0 0 &c., of the music sheet register with the companion tracker duct, and said pneumaticbeing flushed when said duct is closed by imperforate portions of the sheet, allowing the pawl carrier K to descend to its initial-position. Said con trolling perforations are so spaced that the motor pneumatic is collapsed at the end of eachselection on the sheet, or any other predetermined stages or intervals."

The operation of is as follows: Normally, the slide F is in its highest or initial position, as shown in Fig. 1. In this position, the switch cross head-D is elevated and the motor circuit is broken, thecross head being suspended from the lower cross bar f of the slide by the lip al When a coin is deposited in any of the slot-boxes, hereinbefore referred to, the magnet H is momentarily energized, thus recip rocating the detent pawl'g of the escapement and allowing the slide to drop the distance of one tooth. This movement of the slide permits theswitch cross head to drop far enough to close the motor circuit, and the instrument begins to play the first selection on the music sheet. If no additional coins are deposited in any of the coin-boxes during the playing of motor pneumatic N is deflated at theend of the selection by the registration of the first controlling perforation 0 with the corresponding tracker duct, thereby elevating the slide to its former position, raising the switch cross head sufficiently to break the motor. circuit and stopping If, however, a second coin one of the coin-boxes during the playing of the firstselection, the'armature G is reciprocated a second time and the slide drops the distance of another tooth, leaving the cross-head and removing the lower crossbar ofthe slide two steps or teeth from the lip d of the said cross head .Under these conditions, after the playing of the first selection, the motor pneumatic Nis deflated 'and the slide is again elevated one tooth, as before described, but since the slide was dropped or allowed to recede the distance of two teeth, its lower cross bar f stops short of said'lip andv the-switch cross head is therefore allowed to remain its depressed position. plays the secend' selec- The operation of this pneumatic ac the controlling device that selection, the I 1- and in the opposite the instrument. I is deposited in undisturbed chi tion on the music sheet, and atthe end therethe combination 0 of, the second controlling perforation 0 ing member, comes into action and causes the motor to engage sa pneumatic to bedeliated a-second time. The able relative slide isthereby raised a second step or tooth distances th which is sufficient to cause its lower cross trolling the bar 'f" to engage the lip al and raise the trolling switch cross head, thus stopping the instruelectronr ment at' the ends of the second selection. controllin l0 other tables or stations during the playing member. of either of said selections, the slide will be I. In a device of lowered a corresponding number of teeth. the combination of Its lower cross bar thus retreats one step tudinal slot, me from the lip (Z for each coin deposited and anoing the Slid the slide is raised one step at the end of trolling the ret each selection but does not engage said lip slide, means for and open the motor switch until a selection and a switch l has been played for the last coin deposited. llicll engages t The controlling device thus insures the play- 5. In 'a ing of a selection for every coin deposited. the combin In the position of the parts shown in tudinal slo Fig. 4, the slide has been dropped the dis- V8110 tance of one tooth,just far enough to close trollln the motor switch, while in the osition slide, means for ac shown in Fig. 8, the slide has been ropped a S itch the distance of five teeth and the switch having a will therefore be opened. after the instru- 6. In a d .ment has played five selections. the combin The construction of the controlling dethereon and havin vice may obviously be modified within the toothed b scope of the appended claims, and I do not' cooperatin therefore wish to be limited to the particumovable t larconstru'ction herein shown and described. magnet and an In the drawings, four mercury cups 0 detent, and a like number of terminal bolts 6 are lengthwise shown. Two of these form the terminals on said carri of the motor circuit, as hereinbefore deteethof the scribed, while the remaining two may be carrier, and a-swit used as terminals of an electric light cirwith said slide, sai cuit for illustrating the musical instrument receding independent Y to which the controlling device is applied, 7. I

or for any other desired purpose.

.I claim as my invention:

fa switch h a controllingme id shifting membe ly thereto to rece erefrom, a detent the charact ans for inter e, a detent dev device of the ation of a $1 in g the slide,

evice of the ars, a reel with said toothed ely thereof, armature for actua ng carrier slidable 100 feed pawlmounted ged to engage the g the er and arran n a device of the ch the combin 5' gitudin'al guides, 1. In a device of the character described, ranged between the combination of a switch having a shiftverse groove, a sli ing member, a controlling member arranged and having a 10 to engage said shifting member and mov: ing longitudinal able relatively thereto to recede difierent teethya reci distances therefrom, means-controlling the said t receding movement of said controlling gage said teeth. a re ,inember, and means for intermittently adguided in said longi vancing said controlling member. pawl 2. In a device ofthe character described, adapte the combination of a switch having a shiftactuating said carrier-bar ing member, a controlling member arranged pawl,

de arranged in ngitudinal s edges of said s proca'ting detentransverse groove carried by d to engage said t switch opera to engage said shifting member and Inovwith said slid able relatively thereto to recede different 8. In a device of distances therefrom, a controlling circuit, the c electro-magnetic .means included in said slide ope circuit and controlling the receding moveand gui ment of said controlling member, and means ing a longitudinal for intermittently advancing said controledges of wh' ling member. detent device co 3. In' a device of the character described, a carrier mounte ombination of ratively conne ded on said su operating d on said sn aving a shiftber arranged r and-movde diflerent device coner described, ing a longiittently adice for conr described, g a longirmittently addevice for conating movement of character described, a support, a slide guided of opposing 95 detent-pawl bars and an electro ting said acter described, rt having lonnal groove ars and a transsaid guides the opposlot having pawl guided in and adapted to eng carrier-bar groove, a feed carrier-bar and eeth, means for and said detenttively connected a tch d with teeth, a

ith said teeth, pport and mov- 130 able lengthwise of said slide, a feed pawl contacts arranged to' enter said receptacles, 15 mounted -on said carrier within said slot a slide 'operatively connected with sai and arranged to engage said teeth, a stop switch-head but capable of limited idle arranged to hold the feed pawl out of enmovement toward said receptacles, means gagement with the toothed slide in thedefor intermittently advancing the slide, and pressed position of the carrier,- and means intermittently-acting m ans for nt lling'zo for actuating said detent device and said the idle: or .receding movement of the slide. carrier. Y a Witness my hand this 25th day of Au- 1 9. In a device of the character described, gust, 1910. r

10 the combination of a switch-comprising a pair of insulated receptacles adapted to contain a conductive fluid, circuit-terminals Witnesses: 1 extending into' said receptacles and a mov- HARRY V. Mn'rznn, able head carrying electrically-connected RINEHOLD H; MELDM'AN.

cos. W. SOHABOLD. 

